Apparatus for cleaning and oiling paving forms

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cleaning and oiling elongated paving forms which have a flat upper end. The apparatus includes a portable frame means having front and rear guide rollers adapted to roll along the upper end of the form. A power means is provided on the frame means and drives one of the guide rollers to propel the apparatus along the length of the form. A cleaning means is mounted on the frame means and is powered by the power means to clean the upper end of the form and the upper end of the vertical base portion of the form as the apparatus is moved along the length of the form. A powered spray means is mounted on the frame means and sprays oil on the form as the apparatus is propelled along the form. One embodiment of the cleaning means includes a rotatable member having a plurality of finger elements extending therefrom which are adapted to strike the form to remove foreign material such as concrete or the like therefrom. A modification of the cleaning means is disclosed wherein a plurality of spring loaded chisels or the like are operated by the power means to remove the foreign material from the upper end of the form.

llnited States Patent [72] Inventor Arthur J. Weaver 745 N. 57th Ave., Omaha, Nebr. 68132 [21 Appl. No. 869,829 [22] Filed Oct. 27, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 7, 1971 [54] APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND OILING PAVING FORMS 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 118/72, 15/2565, l18/305 [5 I] Int. Cl BOSc 1 H00 [50] Field of Searc ll8/305, 72, 2; 15/141, 256.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,035,539 5/1962 Jennings 118/72 X Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney-Zarley, McKee & Thomte ABSTRACT: An apparatus for cleaning and oiling elongated paving forms which have a flat upper end. The apparatus includes a portable frame means having front and rear guide rollers adapted to roll along the upper end of the form. A power means is provided on the frame means and drives one of the guide rollers to propel the apparatus along the length of the form. A cleaning means is mounted'on the frame means and is powered by the power means to clean the upper end of the form and the upper end of the vertical base portion of the form as the apparatus is moved along the length of the form. A powered spray means is mounted on the frame means and sprays oil on the form as the apparatus is propelled along the form. One embodiment of the cleaning means includes a rotatable member having a plurality of finger elements extending therefrom which are adapted to strike the form to remove foreign material such as concrete or the like therefrom. A modification of the cleaning means is disclosed wherein a plurality of spring loaded chisels or the like are operated by the power means to remove the foreign material from the upper end of the form.

PATENTEUUEC nan 35251 1 INVENTOR. ARTHUR J. WEAVER Mtg-5 f @24MZ7- APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND QILING PAVING FORMS The steel paving forms which are commonly used to construct streets and sidewalks are usually provided with a horizontally disposed upper end portion. It is necessary to remove foreign material such as concrete or the like from the upper end portions of the forms before the sidewalk or street is poured since levelling devices are moved along the upper ends of the forms to level the concrete between the forms. If foreign material is present on the upper ends of the forms, irregularities in the upper surface of the street or sidewalk will result. Heretofore, the forms have been manually cleaned with such tools as hammers, scrapers, chisels and the like and such manual cleaning of the forms is time consuming and expensive. After the forms have been manually cleaned, a coating of oil is also usually manually applied to the forms to prevent the forms from sticking to the concrete.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an apparatus for cleaning paving forms.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for oiling paving forms.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning and oiling paving forms which is self-propelled.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning paving forms which effectively removes foreign material such as concrete or the like from the upper ends of the forms.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning and oiling paving forms which eliminates the operation of manually cleaning and oiling the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning and oiling paving forms which quickly cleans and oils the forms.

A further object of thisinvention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning and oiling paving forms which reduces labor costs.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning and oiling paving forms which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specificallypointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the apparatus with portions thereof cut away to more fully illustrate the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the cleaning means of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of the apparatus illustrating the relationship of the apparatus to the paving form;

FIG. 4 is a front schematic view of the cleaning means of FIG. 2 in relationship to a steel paving form; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a modified form of the cleaning means ofthis invention.

The numeral generally designates a paving form including a bottom 12, vertical inner face portion 14 and a horizontally disposed flat upper end 16. Form 10 is of conventional construction and is secured to the ground or the like by means of a pin means 18 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The apparatus of this invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 20 and includes a frame means 22 having a forward end 24 and a rearward end 26. A pair of wheels 28 and 30 are rotatably mounted at the forward end of the frame means 22 to facilitate movement of the apparatus when the same is not being supported by the form 10. Shaft 32 is rotatably mounted at the forward end of the frame means 22 and has a guide roller 34 mounted thereon for rotation therewith. Guide roller 34 includes flanges 36 and 38 at the opposite ends thereof which are adapted to maintain the guide roller on the upper end 16 of form 10. As seen in FIG. 3, the

lower end of guide roller 34 is exposed below the bottom of frame means 22 so that the same may roll along the upper end 16 of form 10. Pulley 40 is mounted at one end of shaft 32 and has a belt 42 extending therearound.

Engine 44 is mounted on frame means 22 and has a conventional gearbox means 46 connected thereto having a power shaft 48 rotatably extending therefrom as seen in FIG. 1. Shaft 48 has a pulley 50 mounted thereon having a belt 52 extending therearound. The numeral 54 designates a housing provided on frame means 22 rearwardly of engine 44 and having a shaft 56 rotatably mounted therein and extending therethrough, one end of which is exposed as illustrated in FIG. 1. Pulleys 58 and 60 are mounted on the exposed ends of shaft 56 for rotation therewith. Belt 52 extends around pulley 50 and around pulley 58 while belt 42 extends around pulley 40 and pulley 60. Thus, the rotation of shaft 48 by the engine 44 causes shaft 56 to be rotated which in turn causes shaft 32 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. A third pulley 62 is mounted on shaft 56 for rotation therewith and has a belt 64 extending therearound as viewed in FIG. 1. The numeral 66 designates a centrifugal pump mounted on the upper end of housing 54 and having a shaft 68 rotatably extending therefrom. Pulley 70 is mounted on shaft 68 and receives the belt 64 extending therearound so that the pump 66 will be activated when shaft 56 is rotated by the engine 44. Conduit 72 connects pump 66 with an oil reservoir 74 while a conduit 76 connects the discharge side of the pump 66 to a plurality of spray nozzles 78 which are positioned below the frame means 22 so as to permit oil 80 to be sprayed on the surface 14 of the form 10 at a predetermined time. Conduit 76 is provided with a conventional valve means 82 to permit the selective control of the spraying operation.

A guide roller 84 is mounted on a shaft 86 provided at the rearward end of the frame means 22 and has spaced-apart flanges 88 and 90 provided thereon adapted to maintain the guide roller 84 on the upper end of the form as illustrated in the drawings. The numeral 92 refers to a cover which is adapted to be secured to the frame means 22 to enclose the apparatus thereon. A handle 92 is secured to cover 92 by any convenient means and extends upwardly and rearwardly therefrom to permit the operator to guide the apparatus.

The preferred form of the cleaning means of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 2 and is generally designated by the reference numeral 96. As seen in FIG. 2, a pair of spacedapart plates 98 and 100 are mounted on the shaft 56 for rotation therewith and have a plurality of rods 102 secured thereto and extending therebetween. A plurality of fingers 104 are pivotally mounted on each of the rods 102 and are preferably constructed of a flexible resilient material such as rubber or the like. The operation of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. l-4 is as follows: Engine 44 is first started and the apparatus is then placed on the form 10 so that the guide rollers 34 and 84 are positioned on the upper end 16 of the form 10. The rotation of the shaft 48 by the engine 44 causes guide roller 34 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 to cause the guide roller 34 to pull the apparatus along the length of the form. The speed of the engine and the gearing of the means 46 will determine the speed of the apparatus along the length of the form but as much as 250 feet per minute is easily obtainable. The rotation of shaft 48 causes shaft 56 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. l-3 which causes the flexible fingers 104 to flail or strike the upper end 16 of the form 10 as the apparatus is propelled along the length of the form. The fact that the pivotal axis of the fingers 104 is offset with respect to the axis of shaft 56 together with the pivotal relationship of the fingers 184 with respect to the shaft 56 causes the fingers to strike the upper end 16 of the form to effectively dislodge any foreign material present thereon. As seen in FIG. 4, the fingers 104 which are positioned adjacent the surface 14 strike the extreme upper end thereof to dislodge any foreign material which is present thereon. Valve means 82 is regulated to cause pump 66 to pump oil from the reservoir 74 to the nozzle 78 so that oil is sprayed on the form 10 as the apparatus is propelled along the length thereof.

A modified form of a cleaning means is illustrated in FIG. 5 and is seen to include a plurality of eccentric, spring-loaded chisels 106 which are adapted to strike the upper end of the form to remove foreign material such as concrete therefrom. The chisels 106 are eccentrically mounted or cam mounted on shafts 108, 110 and 112 which are rotated by a suitable belt means 114 which is operatively connected to the engine. Rotation of the shafts 108, 110 and 112 causes the chisels 106 to be driven downwardly into contact with the upper end of the form and the spring means 116 aids in returning the chisels to a position above the upper end of the form 10.

Thus it can be seen that a unique apparatus has been provided which effectively removes foreign material from the upper ends of the forms which substantially reduces the amount of time needed to clean the forms and which also pro vides a much cleaner form being provided Further, the apparatus of this invention substantially reduces the labor costs ordinarily associated with the cleaning of forms and permits a single operator to clean and oil large amounts of forms in a very short time. This it can be seen that the apparatus accomplishes all of its stated objectives.

lclaim:

1. In an apparatus for cleaning foreign material from an elongated stationary form means having an upper end, comprising,

a frame means having rearward and forward ends,

a first guide roller means rotatably mounted on said frame means at the forward end thereof adapted to roll upon the upper end of said form means,

a second guide roller means rotatably mounted on said frame means at the rearward end thereof adapted to roll upon the upper end of said form means,

a power means on said frame means,

and means mounted on said frame means connected to said power means adapted to engage the upper end of said form means to clean foreign material from the upper end thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means on said frames means is comprised of a rotatably mounted member driven by said power means, said rotatably mounted member having a plurality of finger elements secured thereto and ex: tending therefrom, said finger elements adapted to strike the upper end of said form means and to clean the same upon said rotatable member being rotated by said power means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said finger elements are pivotally connected to said rotatable element.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said finger elements are comprised of a flexible resilient material.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said form means has a vertical fact portion extending downwardly from said upper end, some of said finger elements being adapted to strike said fact portion adjacent the upper end thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said guide roller means is operatively connected to said power means for rotating the same to cause said one guide roller means to move said frame means along the length of said form means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an oil reservoir is mounted on said frame means, a pump means fluidly connected to said reservoir and driven by said power means, and a spray means mounted on said frame means and being operatively fluidly connected to said pump means, said spray means adapted to spray oil on said form means upon the activation of said pump means.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means on said frame means is comprised of a plurality of movable powered chisels adapted to strike the upper end of said form.

* I I i i 

1. In an apparatus for cleaning foreign material from an elongated stationary form means having an upper end, comprising, a frame means having rearward and forward ends, a first guide roller means rotatably mounted on said frame means at the forward end thereof adapted to roll upon the upper end of said form means, a second guide roller means rotatably mounted on said frame means at the rearward end thereof adapted to roll upon the upper end of said form means, a power means on said frame means, and means mounted on said frame means connected to said power means adapted to engage the upper end of said form means to clean foreign material from the upper end thereof.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means on said frames means is comprised of a rOtatably mounted member driven by said power means, said rotatably mounted member having a plurality of finger elements secured thereto and extending therefrom, said finger elements adapted to strike the upper end of said form means and to clean the same upon said rotatable member being rotated by said power means.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said finger elements are pivotally connected to said rotatable element.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said finger elements are comprised of a flexible resilient material.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said form means has a vertical fact portion extending downwardly from said upper end, some of said finger elements being adapted to strike said face portion adjacent the upper end thereof.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said guide roller means is operatively connected to said power means for rotating the same to cause said one guide roller means to move said frame means along the length of said form means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an oil reservoir is mounted on said frame means, a pump means fluidly connected to said reservoir and driven by said power means, and a spray means mounted on said frame means and being operatively fluidly connected to said pump means, said spray means adapted to spray oil on said form means upon the activation of said pump means.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means on said frame means is comprised of a plurality of movable powered chisels adapted to strike the upper end of said form. 